William C. Steinkraus (1925), a resident of Noroton, CT, is a six time Olympian who in 1968 became the first American ever to win and Olympic individual gold medal in equestrian sport when he won the show-jumping title in Mexico City. A graduate of Yale College, where his education was interrupted by a stint in Burma with the U.S. Cavalry during World War II, Steinkraus joined the U S Equestrian Team in 1951. He rode on the bronze-medal team in Helsinki in 1952 and was a member of every subsequent Olympic Team through 1972, riding as team captain from 1955 on sharing team silver medals in 1960 and 1972. He retired from international competition after the 1972 season.

The following year, Steinkraus was elected USET President; he became its Chairman ten years later, and Chairman emeritus in 1992. A Director of The American Horse Shows Association for more than four decades and Chairman or member of many AHSA Committees, he has received both its Horseman of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. He has served as television commentator at four Olympic games and three World Championships and has officiated as International Judge at the Olympic and Pan American Games, World Championships and World Cup Finals as well as many other international events around the world.

Married to the former Helen Ziegler, herself a noted dressage judge and organizer, and the father of three sons, Steinkraus has been elected to the Madison Square Garden, National Horse Show, New York Sports and Show Jumping hall of Fame. He is an Honorary Bureau Member and former Executive Board Member of the Federation Equestre Internationale, the world governing body of equestrian sport. For ten years he was President of its World Cup Committee. He still finds the time to ride when his other commitments permit.

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Priorities for the New Millenium A review of the history of the horse sports in the past century, where we are and where we are headed.

A noted author he has written several books on equestrian matters, most recently Reflections on Riding and Jumping (revised in 1997).